Improvement in tobacco-packages



- E. FELGNER.

Tobacco Packages.

Patented March 18, 1873..'

I Welvr AM. PHoro-umosmm/c co. MX(0sannll&'9 mocassj PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. FELGNER, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOBACCO-PACKAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No 136,984, dated March 18, 1873. e

in the art to practice it.

Under the existing revenue laws tobacco for smoking and similar purposes is put up in packages of prescribed weight, such as two ounces, four ounces, &c., the value or denominat-ion of the revenue stamp required to be put thereon being determined by the weight of the package. The sacks employed are usually of muslin or linen, and when tightly filled with tobacco their mouths aretied up with a string, and the package is thus clumsy, and in its shape and proportions is found to be incapable of being carried by the smoker in his vest or watch pocket, or in the breast-pocket of his coat, or, in fact, in any of his pockets, without so much inconvenience that it is seldom attempted. One, and the main, reason of this is because the package is more or less convex or bulging on every side, besides being too broad in proportion to its length, so that it can hardly be admitted into any ordinary small pocket of a gentlemans garments, and if put in any larger pocket it bulges it out too much, owing to its approximating the cubic or a spherical shape.

In my invention I give to the package an entirely different shape, whereby it shall be capable of adapting itself flatly to that flat side of a pocket which is against the person; and, by reason of the curvature or bulge of its opposite side, shall also adapt itself to that part of the pocket which is at liberty to be distended to conform to such curved part; and by this peculiarity of shape I lessen the size of the package crosswise andproportionately add to its length, so that a smaller pocket will receive it, while the amount of tobacco in the package or sack is not, for this purpose, any the less.

In order so to fill a sack, box, or package as to give it this useful and verydesirable and marketable shape I prefer to use a funnel of peculiar shape, whereby it may be filled and the tobacco compactly packed therein; and my invention further consists in a novel method of closing and sealing the sack or package,

and so as also to conceal the strings, which will be required for use after, and only after, the first opening of the sack.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective of the tube or funnel which I prefer to employ for filling, and which may have a flaring-mouth, if desired. Fig. 2 is a cross-section. Figs. 3 and 4 show also two slight variations or modifications of its form, or of the form, in crosssection, of the filled package, the flat side in one being slightly concave, and in the other slightly convex. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of my packed bags or sacks sealed with wax, and showing, in dotted lines, the string or strings, hidden entirely beneath the folds of the cloth. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the bag after the seal has been broken, the bag opened, and the string exposed to view and geady for use in any subsequent closing of the The funnel A, which not only gives form to the filled bag, but also serves for filling it by pouring the tobacco into it after the bag has first been pulled tightly over one end of it, is,

as will be seen, plano-convex, or nearly so,

in cross-section. The side 11 corresponds with that part b of the filled bag which, if placed in the vest-pocket, would come nearest the person. The part 0 corresponds with that part c of the bag which, in such case, would bulge out the pocket away from the person. This funnel is, as near as practicable, about uniform in cross-section from end to end and. open at both ends, and is made as much longer than the'sack as to permit it to receive the requisite weight of tobacco while in the loose state, and before it has been rammed or packed down into theba-g-say a little over twice the length of the bag. The funnel may be supplied with its charge of tobacco by any preferred means. D represents the sack or bag after being filled, its shape, it will be observed, coinciding in cross-section with that of the funnel, which, after, serving its purpose, I withdraw from the sack preparatory to closing the same. The funnel and package may be angular instead of curved in cross-section at the side 0. I provide each bag at its mouth with a string, 0, which does not require to be run in, but may I i an be simply passed through a single needle-hole near the edge.

To close the bag, in preparing it for market or transportation, I do not tie its mouth with the string, as heretofore practiced, and thereby give it a clumsy and puckered appearance; but, on the contrary, fold the mouth neatly, after the manner of paper bags, as shown in the drawing at f f, and then seal up, with Wax or equivalent material, the last fold or folds, as seen at 9, taking care in so doing to cover up and hide from sight the string, whose duties only commence after the seal shall have been broken and the bag opened.

This multiple folding of the mouth of the bag is also a greater security against the spillin g out of tobacco in handling or transportation, as compared with mouths simply tied with a string, and the wax sealing positively locks and secures the folds until intentionally broken up; and this mode of closing avoids the risk of loose and indifferent tying to which the former practice was liable, and whereby not infrequently large portions of the contents would be shaken out or lost.

This kind of package, and the method and apparatus employed, may be used in packing articles other than smoking-tobacco-for instance, snufi', fine-cut and chewing tobacco, spices, drugs, groceries, &c.; and, in general, wherever such style of package may be found useful and practical.

Instead of cloth or muslin the package may be made of paper, pasteboard, thin wood, tin, tin-foil, or, in short, of any appropriate material; and in using some of these materials the string might be dispensed with.

I claim- 1. A package or sack having when filled the form, in transverse section, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A sack or package of tobacco having its mouth closed by folding and sealing, substantially as shown and described, and concealing beneath the fold or folds a string, 0, as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWARD L.'FELGNER.

Witnesses FREDRIOK W. FELGNER, WILLIAM T cLAUsEN. 

